The United Nations has called for an immediate halt to the deportation of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan, raising alarms over human rights violations and safety concerns. Over 1.9 million Afghans have been forcibly returned in the past seven months alone, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.
Speaking from Geneva on July 18, Türk said 1.5 million were expelled from Iran and over 300,000 from Pakistan. He warned that many of the returnees face risks of abuse, torture, or arbitrary detention under the current regime in Afghanistan. The High Commissioner urged that all returns must be voluntary, safe, dignified, and in accordance with international law.
The UN describes Afghanistan as being in the midst of a deep humanitarian and human rights crisis, especially for vulnerable groups such as women, girls, journalists, and former government employees. Returnees are also grappling with discrimination, economic collapse, and limited access to work and services, making reintegration nearly impossible.
International concern has grown as deportations continue to escalate. In a related development, Germany recently deported 81 Afghans, citing criminal records—adding further controversy to ongoing forced returns amid instability in Afghanistan.
The UN reiterated its appeal for all countries to respect international protection obligations and halt deportations that may worsen the crisis. Türk emphasized that continuing this trend could endanger thousands of lives and further destabilize Afghanistan.